Bob Rayner’s Political Dispatches

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I f Republicans are to regain their foot ing in Virginia -- and return to the governor's mansion -- they'll need to win back the kind of moderate, market-oriented business types who Democrats, particularly Mark Warner, have proved adept at attracting in recent elections.

Bob McDonnell's bid for governor creates a perfect test case. The GOP nominee developed a record as a social conservative in the General Assembly. He hasn't refuted that record. But he did earn a reputation as an attorney general who worked well with members of both parties. And he is running a campaign that's focusing on fiscal conservatism and pragmatic solutions to the commonwealth's problems.

Plus, anyone who has met McDonnell knows that his personality exudes low-key moderation and good grace. He's the kind of man who quietly bows his head in prayer before lunch, without making a big deal about it. Perhaps most important, in terms of political advantage, McDonnell's generally sunny but serious demeanor seems to translate effectively on television.

So last week's announcement that a handful of former supporters of Mark Warner and/or Tim Kaine -- including several Republicans returning to the fold -- are publicly backing McDonnell could be one of those small but significant clues about who will win in November. The list includes Judy Ford Wason, who was director of Virginians for Warner in 2001; Vincent Callahan and Wyatt Durrette, former GOP state legislators who have endorsed at least one Democrat for statewide office in recent years; and George Newstrom and Jane Woods, both cabinet secretaries during Warner's term as governor.

Richmond businessmen Mark Gambill, Bill Royall, and John Sherman also declared their support for McDonnell.

It's dangerous to read too much into one short list, but if McDonnell continues to win the support of similar well-known, middle-of-the-road leaders, he'll have a good chance to undermine Creigh Deeds' efforts to mine the moderate votes that put Warner and Kaine in office.

-- Bob Rayner